[The Editors' Verdict] The Attitude of Public Officials

Lee Dansang, a scholar of the late Joseon period, was appointed as a secret royal inspector of Jeolla Province in 1658 by a special order from King Hyojong. In the ninth year of Hyojong's reign, a severe famine had been ongoing for several years. Starving beggars camped in front of the gates of noblemen’s houses, who were living in luxury. Seeing this, Lee Dansang said, "Distribute the grain stored in the warehouses to the people. From now on, anyone who disobeys my order will not be forgiven." When the local magistrate tried to dissuade him, saying it was against the law, Lee Dansang replied, "How can you talk about the law in front of such starving people? Whatever happens from now on, I will take full responsibility, so you, the magistrate, need not worry." Lee Dansang then traveled around various counties in Jeollanam-do, opening the storerooms of noble families and distributing grain to the starving people.

The following year, Lee Dansang was summoned by King Hyojong and tearfully reported what he had seen, heard, and done. The king also shed tears and, without punishing him for breaking the law, said, "Well done." This is an anecdote about Lee Dansang recorded in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty.

There have been instances where public officials or civil servants referred to themselves or were referred to as gongbok (公僕), meaning servants of the public or messengers for the people. However, there is also a negative meaning of gongbok (公伏), which refers to those who grovel before power or lie flat and do nothing in the face of assigned duties, thus being disparaged as inert and unresponsive.

Who will become a true public official or gongbok, and who will become a gongbok that is inert and unresponsive becomes increasingly clear as the end of a term approaches. The latter half of the Moon Jae-in administration is now nearing its final stage. Considering the results of the recent Seoul mayoral by-election, the president’s approval ratings, and the voices of crisis emerging from the ruling party, there is a cautious prediction of a lame-duck period, and signs of lame-duck syndrome are appearing even within the bureaucracy. Typical signs of lame-duck syndrome include △ orders not being followed, △ the bureaucracy avoiding or opposing policies, measures, or initiatives that could lead to accountability in the next administration, and △ avoidance of key tasks and jockeying for position.

Superficially, the economy seems to be heading toward polarization. Housing prices have soared, stock prices have risen, and cryptocurrencies have skyrocketed. Many people have made money, and even companies that were struggling are showing good performance. The economy shows signs of rebounding to pre-COVID-19 levels. However, the aftereffects of COVID-19 have left small business owners, self-employed individuals, and micro-businesses, as well as industries directly hit by the pandemic, in a severely deteriorated state. While the role of the National Assembly is important, it is precisely at times like these that the government, public officials, and especially senior officials must take the lead.

Kyung-ho Lee, Head of Social Affairs Department

Professor Yoon Kyunsoo of Korea University’s Department of Public Administration pointed out in his paper titled “Accountability of Senior Public Officials: From Political Neutrality to Political Prudence” that the normative and imperative nature of political neutrality actually acts as a trap that constrains senior public officials. Professor Yoon said, "Accountability of senior public officials is not simply about maintaining institutional independence and expertise or faithfully implementing government pledges that reflect public opinion," but rather, "the basis of their accountability should be found in the fact that they must make prudent decisions amid the tension of performing multiple roles that sometimes conflict with each other."

Lee Dansang, who ordered the opening of storerooms to aid the people even at the risk of breaking the law, was both a politician and a senior political official. He made a decisive decision as a senior official responsible for state affairs, fully aware that his actions would not politically benefit him at all. While there are many K-series successes like K-Quarantine, perhaps it is now time for the emergence of ‘K-Gongjigja’ (K-Public Officials).